After a cold winter the weather is starting to break; the water is warming up and the big tarpon are starting to migrate in and show up in numbers. Spring is here, as we move in to April we'll start fishing in the channels as well as in the backcountry for Tarpon. Live and/or dead bait will be the key; this should last us through June. Our permit and bonefishing will continue to increase as our weather stays nice. Dont forget there is still plenty of action in the Everglade National Park as well as in the Gulf for the angler or family that wants to just catch a lot of fish and have a fun day on the water.and remember tight linesCapt. John Johansen

THE BACKCOUNTRY OF ISLAMORADA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS HAS BEEN VERY MUCH ALIVE WITH GREAT CATCHES OF TROUT. THE REDFISH WERE ALL OVER ON THE FLATS IN DECEMBER AT EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.THE COLD WEATHER CAME ALONG IN JANUARY AND PUSHED THE REDFISH INTO DEEPER WATER. HERE IT IS THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY AND THE DAYS HAVE GONE TO THE 80'S. BONE FISHING DROPPED OFF WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WENT INTO THE LOW 60'S. THERE COMING UP ON THE FLATS WITH THE TIDE NOW. SHARPEN UP YOUR CASTING AND FISHING TALENTS' CATCHES OF MACKEREL HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE WEST AND WILL MOVE CLOSER TO THE KEYS AND ISLAMORADA AREA. SNOOK SEASON OPENED ON FEBRUARY 1. ALLOT OF CATCH RELEASE WAS DONE IN CLOSED SEASON.THE CAPE SABLE AREA HAS BEEN THE HOTTEST SPOT.

OFF SHORE FISHING FOR SAILFISH IS DRAWING TO IT'S PEEK PRETTY SOON. GROUPER, YELLOW TAIL SNAPPER AND KINGFISHING HAS BEEN GREAT. THE SHALLOW WATER PATCHES WHICH ARE WITH IN A MILE OR TWO OFF ISLAMORADA HAVE BEEN TEAMING WITH GROUPER MANGROVE SNAPPER,YELLOW TAIL SNAPPER, HOG FISH AND PORGIES. GOOD FISHING FOR SMALLER BOATS.

I'M GOING TO PUT TOGETHER SOME HELPFUL HINTS THAT MIGHT HELP SOME OF YOU SNOOK FISHERMEN IN THE BACK COUNTRY AND BONE FISHERMEN AROUND THE ISLAMORADA FLORIDA KEYS AREA.